The Magic lost to the Cavs in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs and now the focus shifts to the draft. Who will the Magic take in the first round? Let’s look at potential options as the Magic hopes to take the next step in 2024-25.
Magic Own No. 18 Pick in 2024
The Magic are sitting with the number 18 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The team has several needs including shooting, a true point guard, and 🍸rim protectors. It will be a busy offseason as the Magic look to add depth to a team that lost 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
More: Magic 2024 draft picks and future selections
Mock Draft: Magic Select Cal’s Jalyon Tyson at No. 18
Jaylon Tayson has great size (6’6″) and is an extremely versatile guard who can light it up from downtown. He scored 19.6 points per game and grabbed 6.8 rebounds this past season while shooting 36% from three. Last season he shot 40.2% from downtown showing he has the ability to be an elite shooter.
The Magic need shᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚooters and Tyson brings not only the ability to score from downtown but solid size to create matchup problems. Tyson was an All-Pac-12 selection and seems like a good fit to join Banchero and Wagner as a legit scoring option for Orlando.
Tristan Da Silva Could Be a Good Fit
Another potential option for the Magic is Colorado’s Tristan Da Silva. He’s been getting plenty of buzz and is also a versatile scorer with size (6’8″). Da Silva scored 16.0 points per game and grabbed 5.1 rebounds in 2023-24. He shot 39.5% from downtown and was a career 38.6% shooter from three in his career at Colorado.
He brings tremendous size and shooting which would be great value adds for the Magic as they are looking to boost their perimeter shooting to free up space for Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to operate. Da Silva is a top-20 player on the so it’s possible he might be scooped up before Orlando has a chance to get him.
Magic Have Solid Core Heading Into 2024-25
The Magic have offseason questions🃏 to address but the core is looking good moving forward. The team has key players like Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, and Cole Anthony under contract. Banchero took a huge♌ step forward this past season as he was named an All-Star after averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
Franz Wagner averaged 19.7 points and 5.4 rebounds wh🔴ile looking like he is ready to take a major jump next season. Suggs was one of the best shooters on the team as he shot 39.7% from downtown and averaged 12.6 points per game.
There is muc♚h to be excited about as Banchero, Suggs, Waagner, and Anthony will all be 24 or younger heading into next season. A strong core for a franchise hoping to consistentl♏y get back into the playoffs after just three appearances since the 2012-13 season.
If Orlando decides toဣ go with a shooter like Da Silva or Tyson in round 1, they will have to address the🐲 point guard position along with targeting bigs to give the team depth. While the team has several young point guards on the roster, none of them is a true option to help run the offense and give the best opportunities for Banchero and Wagner to score.
